I’ve stupidly accepted 2 jobs - Help deciding please 🙏🏻

[Isabella83]

Ok so I know I’m being unreasonable but I need an outside perspective on which job I should actually go through with.

Job A - 40-50 min drive, £26k, 4 days a week working 8.30-5; with 1 day WFH.

Job B - 5 min drive/15 minute walk, £27.5k, 4 long days working 8-6 OR 5 normal days working 9-5 where I could fit the morning school run in.

Job A is my preferred choice in terms of job satisfaction, client group, and the team I’d be working with.

But Job B is obviously more convenient in terms of juggling childcare and involves less travel/fuel costs etc.

Help me decide please?

I don't know enough about the field to know whether you'd be stuck working with that subset (children/offenders) long-term once you start, which may be a factor. But if DD is 8 now then you've potentially got around 4 years while she still needs wraparound care (possibly more depending on what she's like, but it's really hard to get in some areas for secondary age children), for that amount of time at least I'd take the one which is closer to home and better hours. And then in 4 years time you may well be ready to move on anyway.

Once you have started, it might be worth discussing whether they could accommodate a mix (if that would suit you), so e.g. could you do 2 days 8-6, 2 days 9-5, and then one day 9-2 (where you wouldn't need wraparound care at all) - that way you could do the school run 3 mornings and one afternoon a week and just pay for breakfast and after school clubs 2 mornings and 3 afternoons. That's for the longterm anyway, I wouldn't bring it up before you've even started!

if you have two job offers close enough to what you're looking for to accept initially, but neither of which you feel enthusiastic enough about to commit to without asking a bunch of random strangers, I'd suggest that you turn both down and keep looking.
And use the process to narrow down what you accept in the future.

Another option is to consider whether there's an option of playing one off against the other? More flexibility at B, or A matching the salary?

I would go for A. Jon satisfaction for me is the number one factor. That and prospects, progression opportunities.

*job

Definitely B

Do you think you are drawn to A because you have familiarity with the client group? Long term it can be quite demoralising working with young people because realistically a lot depends on other factors in their life. You may be brilliant but it might be a fantastic teacher that helps or change of circumstances.Some you really can’t get them the help they need which is frustrating if it’s a budget issue. Sometimes they do just mature, or sometimes not and it becomes adult mental health.

B sounds like it might be more practically useful ?

@Vikinga

I'm sure they interviewed other candidates and they can offer the job to the next best person. They've not lost anything. Many people have to do multiple interviews and get nowhere with some of them.

Only if they haven't called them already to reject them, which they probably have if they OP has already accepted. I wouldn't be best pleased if I was the next candidate in line and I got a callback after being rejected...

I wouldn't be best pleased if I was the next candidate in line and I got a callback after being rejected...

Each to their own but, If it was a job I'd really wanted and had the pay l, convenience and benefits I wanted, I snap their hands off. I would show them, in the time I worked for them, that I was the right person to have been made the offer all along. 🌹

Once high costs of commuting are taken into account job A is much worse, money and time wise. So would only be the better choice if you much preferred the work in child and adolescent health services.

I disagree. I got offered a job one when the first person had turned it down, after I'd already been called to say I hadn't got it. As it happens, I hadn't liked the feel of the place at interview so also turned them down, but in principle I would have been happy to take it. I'd have had no shame being the second choice. DD got an offer of a school place late when someone else didn't take up their offer, we were delighted.

I disagree. I got offered a job one when the first person had turned it down, after I'd already been called to say I hadn't got it. As it happens, I hadn't liked the feel of the place at interview so also turned them down, but in principle I would have been happy to take it. I'd have had no shame being the second choice. DD got an offer of a school place late when someone else didn't take up their offer, we were delighted.

Sorry, I have no idea why that posted twice. Everything else seemed to be working ok.

I’ll do B.
Fuel prices are increasing and by the time you add up the time you’re spending commuting for A and the cost, it’s not that much worth the hassle. I get it’s a preferable unit but as you’re just newly qualified, take B and be on the look out for a more suitable position (pay, commute wise and one that suits your family)

I'm completely shocked that you accepted both @Isabella83

Applying for more than 1 - fine

Getting two offers & saying you need some time to decide - also fine

Accepting both knowing you will then pull out of one is really awful.

The organisation will have let unsuccessful candidates know now. Yes; they can go back to the second placed candidate but it's still an unfair burden to put in all involved, for no good reason.

And you don't appear to care a bit.

B and A are going to be really fucked off.

B it is 😊

I’d choose job b every day of the week

Good for you. Not so good for job A who's time you have totally wasted. But you do you hun. 🙄

Are you going to tell A why you're pulling out?

Good for you. Not so good for job A who's time you have totally wasted. But you do you hun.

Exactly. Tho I think A has dodged a bullet with OP's attitude.

Finding all the negative replies absolutely hilarious. As if employers wouldn't behave badly. I've known job offers withdrawn for no reason, so it's refreshing the employees now seem to hold the power.

Congratulations on being so good you secured two offers OP! I've been in exactly this position recently. I was fortunate that they were both fully remote so I just had to choose my favourite. I'd personally pick which you'd find more interesting but I can't deny less of a commute is a very strong pull.

I suspect the people who are making all the negative comments have never had 2 offers... Enjoy it!

Definitely B.

Job b definitely

I suspect the people who are making all the negative comments have never had 2 offers...

Sometimes I have to a

So do I. I notice she hasn't said whether she's going to tell A she's pulling out having accepted two jobs.